Negros Oriental experiences multiple fatal shootings

A series of fatal shootings has occurred in Negros Oriental, Philippines. In Santa Catalina, three men were killed and one wounded during an early morning attack in Barangay Buenavista on October 16. Police have identified two suspects from the neighboring town of Pamplona, but they remain at large. The motive for the attack has not yet been established.

In a separate incident in Valencia, a 28-year-old security guard was shot and killed by motorcycle-riding assailants while traveling to work on October 15. Investigators are currently reviewing CCTV footage and examining ballistic evidence to identify the suspects and the caliber of the firearm used.

These incidents come as the Philippine National Police (PNP) recently denied a request from Governor Manuel Sagarbarria to implement a gun ban for the 2026 Buglasan Festival. The PNP national headquarters cited a lack of previous shooting incidents directly linked to the festival as the reason for the denial, instead directing local police to follow the Major Events Security Framework to manage crowd control and emergency responses.